Candace Parker Tears Up Over Pat Summitt In Postgame Interview

Over a decade ago, Pat Summitt recruited a young prodigy from Naperville, Illinois, to play for the Tennessee Volunteers. Candace Parker won almost every player of the year award in 2003 and 2004, and was the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year in 2004.

Parker arrived in Knoxville with lofty expectations that were almost crushed when she missed her first season with a knee injury. But as she did with all her players, Summitt demanded the best from Parker. And Parker embraced the challenge. She played three seasons at Tennessee, winning Summitt's final two titles. Parker also won the Naismith Award, became the first player to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game, and the first player to dunk twice in a college game.

Hours after Summitt's passing Tuesday, Parker was on the court for the Los Angeles Sparks. The two-time WNBA MVP delivered 31 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in an 89-84 win. Emotions kicked in after the game during Parker's interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe.

"Well, I see coach's glare, and I hear her voice screaming at me to rebound, especially on the offensive end," Parker said. "I see her little head going back and forth telling me to rebound. It's very ironic that I had my season high in rebounding tonight."

In the interview, Parker also said, "Definitely from here on out, I’m playing for her."

Both Summitt and Parker have banners that hang from the Thompson-Boling Arena rafters. Those will bind them physically. Mentally, Parker will lean on Summitt's teachings for the rest of her life. Owning letters like this helps: